Can opener



Aug. 13, 1929. H E PLAK 1,724,722

CAN' OPENER Filed Feb. 7, 1928 Jfyl. /9

M ..mummlf mm @D /0 [lumi I f2 IIIIII' Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,724,722 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. rLAcx, or Towson, MARYLAND.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed February This invention relates to can openers and has special reference to a can opener for opening what are known as press top cans, thc-se being cans in which the top is applied without the use of solder or the like, the can and top being so formed that the top projects into the can and wedges tightly therein either by means of a rib stamped out of the top fitting a groove formed in the rim of the can or by means of the whole top being stamped inwardly to form a plug fitting within a cooperating shoulder on the can.

In removing the tops of cans of this char. acter it is necessary to insert a blade of some sort in the crack between the top of the can proper and the flange on the edge of the can top. Frequently a -screw driver or the like is used for this purpose and any such in strument is apt to slip and injure the hands of the person holding the can. The prin cipal object of the present invention is to provide a can opener especially adapted for cans of this description wherein provision is made for forcing a blade in the crack between the can top and can, the groove or depression of the can top acting as an abutment for a second blade toward which the first blade is moved.

Vith the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved can opener from one side.

Figure 2 is a side elevation from the other side.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved can opener.

Figure 4 is a section through the upper part of a can and disclosing the legs of the improved can opener in position to open the can.

In the construction of this can opener, the body of the device is formed from a single strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide two parallel portions 10 constituting t-he handle of the opener. This metal is preferably spring steel or other spring metal and the free ends of the portions 10 converge as at 11 to provide parallel legs 12, one of 7, 1928. Serial No. 252,438.

which is bowed outwardly as at 14 and then inwardly to terminate in a wedge shaped blade 15 projecting toward the other leg 12 which is longitudinally extended beyond the blade 15 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. Through the bowed portion 14 extends a thumb screw 16 which revolves freely in the bowed portion but is screwed into the other leg 12 so that when the thumb screw is screwed in one direction the blade 15 is forced toward the remaining leg while unscrewing the screw permits these legs to move apart because of the resilience of the metal.. Secured to the straight leg 12 is a further blade 17 which may be used for opening the ordinary type of can and this blade is provided with a bottle cap remover 18 and prong 19.

In use the straight leg 12 is placed in the depression in the can top T so that it bears against the side of the depression, the leg being so positioned that the blade l5 has its edge opposite the crack between the top T and can C as clearly shown in Figure 4. The thumb screw 16 is then screwed up which forces the blade into the crack and starts the top off the can. Then by swinging the handle outwardly away from the can the topris further pried up and is thus removed.

here has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to conne the invention to the exact form herein 'shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having t-hus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a can opener, a pair of legs movable one toward the other at one end, one of said legs having a blade at its movable end eX- tending at right angles toward the adjacent leg to enter the crack between a can body and a press top for said body, the other of said legs having its end extending longitudinally'beyond said blade to engage against the side of the depression in said top, and a thumb screw extending rotatably through one leg and screwed into the other.

2. A can opener consisting of a strip of spring metal bent intermediate its ends to form a pair of legs movable one toward the other at one end, one of said legs having a blade at its movable end extending at right angles toward the adjacent leg to enter the Crack between a can body and a press top for said body, the other of said legs having its end extending longitudinally beyond said blade to engage against the side of the depression in said top, and means to force said legs toward each other.

3. A can opener consisting of a strip of spring metal bent intermediate its ends to form a pair of legs movable one toward the other at one end, one of said legs having a blade at its movable end extending at right angles toward the adjacent leg to enter the erackbetiveen a can body and a press top for said body, the other of said legs having its end extending longitudinally beyond said blade to engage against the side of the depression in said top, and a thumb screw eX- tending rotatably through one leg and screwed into the other.

al. ln a can opener of the class described, comprising a strip of metal bent intermediate of its ends and having parallel portions forming substantially a handle member, the metal continuing from one of said parallel portions forming a straight leg and provided with a threaded opening adjacent its free end, the portion of the metal continuing from the opposite parallel portion of the handle being continued and bowed, the free end of said bowed portion being tapered and'direeted toward the aforesaid leg to provide substantially a blade, said blade being disposed in a plane short of the end of the aforesaid leg, and a thumb screw rotatably mounted in the bowed portion aforesaid,`having its threaded portion extended in the threaded opening of said leg, Vas and for the purposes described.

.ln testimony whereof I my signature.

HENRY PLAoK. 

